Abstract

BACKGROUND: Captagon, Octodrine, and NBOMe are unique substances; each represents a chemical category of its own pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. Captagon is an amphetamine-type stimulant, while octodrine is a sympathomimetic agent, on the other hand, NBOMe is a hallucinogen (psychedelic substance). However, the mechanism of action for each is exerted via monoamine transporters.

MATERIALS & METHODS: This study will explore these substances using an integrative approach via the analysis of the surface and deep web, and a trends database. The aims are; to visualise the extent of diffusion of each substance on the internet, conclude the geo-mapping for the diffusion, to see if the patterns are compatible on both divisions of the web, and to infer data on the basis of the power (authority) for e-vendors on the darknet e-marketplace. This study is a hybrid of cross-sectional and retrospective analyses.

RESULTS: Google Trends analyses confirmed that the popularity of captagon is ahead over both NBOMe and octodrine; captagon popularity was correlated with terror attacks in the developed world, particularly in western European countries. The contribution of the developing countries to the diffusion of these substances, including the Middle East, was minimal.

CONCLUSION: This study proposes a novel method to analyse the e-markets on the darknet via the use of; analysis of the basis of power, inferential statistics, geo-mapping in parallel with data from Google Trends database. Data from Google Trends can serve as a foundation for data mining techniques for an efficient warning system against an anticipated swarm of intoxications or an attack of terror.

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